2020 Real Salt Lake season

Real Salt Lake
2020 season
OwnerDell Loy Hansen
Head coachFreddy Juarez
StadiumRio Tinto Stadium
Major League SoccerConference: 11th
Overall: 21st
MLS Cup PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupCancelled
Leagues CupCancelled
MLS is Back TournamentRound of 16
Highest home attendance18,093
(March 7 vs. NYRB)
Lowest home attendance2,770
(Nov 8 vs. SKC)
Average home league attendanceAll: 5,335
Pre-Covid: 18,093
Post-Covid: 3,740
Biggest winCOL 1–4 RSL (Aug. 22)
RSL 3–0 LAFC (Sept. 9)
Biggest defeatRSL 0–5 COL (Sept. 12)

The 2020 Real Salt Lake season was the team's 16th year of existence, and their 16th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top division of the American soccer pyramid.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended on March 12 and resumed four months later with the MLS is Back Tournament, played behind closed doors in the Orlando metropolitan area. Real Salt Lake resumed home matches in September with a limited capacity of 5,000 people and requirements for spectators to wear masks and practice social distancing.[1][2]

Background

Non-competitive

Preseason

February 8 Closed friendly Real Salt Lake 3–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Herriman, Utah
  • Beckerman
  • Rossi , (pen.)
Report Attendance: closed door scrimmage
February 15 Friendly Real Salt Lake 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Tucson, Arizona
4:00pm Silva  72'
Herrera  76'
Report
Report
Sánchez  40'
Duke  86'
Stadium: Kino North Stadium
Referee: Victor Rivas

Competitions

MLS regular season

Note: The 2020 season was postponed on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season restarted on July 8 with the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando (see below), followed by resumption of regular season games.

Standings

Western Conference table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
8 San Jose Earthquakes 23 8 9 6 35 51 −16 30 1.30 Qualification for the playoffs first round
9 Vancouver Whitecaps FC[a] 23 9 14 0 27 44 −17 27 1.17
10 LA Galaxy 22 6 12 4 27 46 −19 22 1.00
11 Real Salt Lake 22 5 10 7 25 35 −10 22 1.00
12 Houston Dynamo 23 4 10 9 30 40 −10 21 0.91
Source: MLS[3]
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Notes:
  1. ^ Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
Overall table

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
2 2 0 0 2 1 1  0 0 0 1 1 1  0 0 0 1 0 0  0

Last updated: March 9, 2020
Source: MLS Results
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Match results

February 29 1 Orlando City SC 0–0 Real Salt Lake Orlando, Florida
4:00 p.m. MDT
Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 25,527
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
March 7 2 Real Salt Lake 1–1 New York Red Bulls Sandy, Utah
12:00 p.m. MDT Silva  54'
Martínez  80'
Kreilach 90+'
Report Cásseres 13'
Seagrist  35'
Duncan  73'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 18,093
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
August 22 6 (RMC) Colorado Rapids 1–4 Real Salt Lake Commerce City, Colorado
7:00 p.m. MDT Herrera 38' (o.g.) Report Kreilach 57',  78'
Chang 76',  88'
Baird 85'
Meram 89'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
August 29 7 Portland Timbers 4–4 Real Salt Lake Portland, Oregon
8:30 p.m. MDT Chara 6',  30'
Niezgoda 21'
Mabiala  67'
Williamson  69'
Blanco 70'
Mora 85'
Report Baird 19'
Kreilach 48'
Johnson  81', 90+4'
Rossi 90'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ismail Elfath
September 2 8 Real Salt Lake 2–2 Seattle Sounders FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Herrera  28'
Kreilach  45'+2'
Glad 50'
Ruíz 85'
Baird  90'
Report Arreaga  18'
Lodeiro 29' (pen.)
Gómez 69'
João Paulo  80'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,026
Referee: Malik Badawi
September 6 9 Minnesota United FC 4–0 Real Salt Lake St. Paul, Minnesota
6:00 p.m. MDT Gasper 53'
Reynoso  56'
Lod 62', 90'
Hayes 75'
Report Beckerman  73' Stadium: Allianz Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
September 9 10 Real Salt Lake 3–0 Los Angeles FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Kreilach 9',  48'
Meram 47'
Ruíz  61'
Glad  70'
Rusnák 79' (pen.)
Beckerman  85'
Report Cifuentes  65'
Harvey  78'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,147
Referee: Victor Rivas
Note: Re-schedule of postponed August 26 match.[5]
September 12 11 Real Salt Lake 0–5 Colorado Rapids Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Toia  54'
Martínez  64'
Report Rubio 3', 10'
Vines 49'
Galván 55'
Price  69'
Bassett 88'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,484
Referee: Ramy Touchan
September 19 12 Real Salt Lake 1–2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Beckerman  8'  63'
Toia  68'
Meram 81'
Baird  90+2'
Report Bikel  15'
Adnan  41'
Milinković 53'
Cavallini 84'
Hasal  90+1'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 3,409
Referee: Kevin Stott
September 23 13 Real Salt Lake 2–0 LA Galaxy Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Baird  62'
Rusnák 65' (pen.)
Kreilach 72'
Report DePuy  24'
Bingham  64'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 3,943
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
September 27 14 Minnesota United FC 0–0 Real Salt Lake St. Paul, Minnesota
6:00 p.m. MDT Métanire  37' Report Ruíz  32'
Glad  85'
Stadium: Allianz Field
Referee: Drew Fischer
October 4 15 Real Salt Lake 1–3 Los Angeles FC Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Ruíz  60'
Atuesta 64' (o.g.)
Johnson  71'
Toia  80'
Report Wright-Phillips 22'
Rossi 27'
Rodríguez 59'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 3,062
Referee: Nima Saghafi
October 7 16 Seattle Sounders FC 2–1 Real Salt Lake Seattle, Washington
8:00 p.m. MDT Delem  26'
Morris 28'
Gómez 61'
O'Neill  70'
Report Tolo 68' (o.g.)
Besler  76'
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Referee: David Gantar
October 14 18 Real Salt Lake 2–1 Portland Timbers Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MDT Martínez 11'
Silva  16'
Kreilach 26'
Herrera  82'
Portillo  90+1'
Report Tuiloma 77' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: Robert Sibiga
October 24 19 Real Salt Lake 0–0 FC Dallas Sandy, Utah
6:30 p.m. MDT Ramírez  90+2' Report Jara  75' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,078
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
October 28 20 San Jose Earthquakes 2–0 Real Salt Lake San Jose, California
8:30 p.m. MDT Wondolowski 16', 74'
Judson  53'
Ríos  64'
Report Silva  10'
Besler  22'
Toia  39'
Herrera  59'
Kreilach  63'
Stadium: Earthquakes Stadium
Referee: Elton García
November 1 21 LA Galaxy 2–1 Real Salt Lake Carson, California
8:30 p.m. MDT González 18',  56'
Pavón 65'
Zubak  68'
Report Martínez 78' Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Jon Freemon
November 8 22 Real Salt Lake 0–2 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
4:30 p.m. MST Report Martins  39'
Shelton 45'
Hurtado 48'
Russell  87'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 2,770
Referee: Kevin Stott

MLS is Back tournament

Group stage

Group D results
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sporting Kansas City 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 6 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Minnesota United FC 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5
3 Real Salt Lake 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
4 Colorado Rapids 3 0 1 2 4 7 −3 1
Source: MLS[7]

Note: Group stage results of the MLS is Back Tournament were treated as regular season matches in the overall standings.

Matches

July 22 5 Real Salt Lake 0–2 Sporting Kansas City Bay Lake, Florida
7:00 AM MDT Holt  20'
Johnson  40'
Beckerman  55'
Glad  71'
Report Russell 1'
Sánchez  36'
Busio  56'
Smith  62'
Gerso 86'
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0
Referee: Fotis Bazakos

Knockout stage

U.S. Open Cup

The 2020 U.S Open Cup was suspended on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before being cancelled by the U.S. Soccer Federation on August 17.[8]

Leagues Cup

The 2020 Leagues Cup was canceled on May 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Stats

Squad appearances and goals

Last updated January 11, 2021.
No. Pos Nat Player Total Major League Soccer MLS is Back Tournament Playoffs
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK  USA David Ochoa 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
18 GK  USA Zac MacMath 7 0 3 0 4 0 0 0
51 GK  USA Andrew Putna 15 0 15 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 DF  TRI Alvin Jones 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
3 DF  CAN Ashtone Morgan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF  USA Donny Toia 21 0 16+1 0 4 0 0 0
14 DF  ENG Nedum Onuoha 15 0 15 0 0 0 0 0
15 DF  USA Justen Glad 18 1 11+3 1 4 0 0 0
20 DF  USA Erik Holt 7 0 3+2 0 1+1 0 0 0
22 DF  USA Aaron Herrera 21 0 17 0 4 0 0 0
30 DF  URU Marcelo Silva 16 0 13 0 3 0 0 0
Midfielders
5 MF  USA Kyle Beckerman 11 0 3+5 0 2+1 0 0 0
6 MF  ARG Pablo Enrique Ruíz 19 1 14+2 1 2+1 0 0 0
8 MF  CRO Damir Kreilach 22 9 17+1 7 4 2 0 0
9 MF  IRQ Justin Meram 22 3 12+6 3 1+3 0 0 0
11 MF  SVK Albert Rusnák 17 3 13+1 2 3 1 0 0
13 MF  USA Nick Besler 12 0 6+4 0 0+2 0 0 0
16 MF  CUB Maikel Chang 19 1 12+5 1 0+2 0 0 0
19 MF  ENG Luke Mulholland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 MF  BRA Everton Luiz 15 0 8+3 0 4 0 0 0
26 MF  USA Luis Arriaga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 MF  USA Justin Portillo 5 0 3+2 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
7 FW  ITA Giuseppe Rossi 7 1 1+3 1 0+3 0 0 0
10 FW  USA Corey Baird 22 2 14+4 2 4 0 0 0
12 FW  HON Douglas Martínez 19 3 7+8 2 3+1 1 0 0
17 FW  USA Chris Garcia 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
21 FW  USA Tate Schmitt 4 0 3+1 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW  USA Milan Iloski 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
27 FW  USA Julián Vázquez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 FW  VEN Jeizon Ramírez 10 0 0+9 0 0+1 0 0 0
50 FW  LBR Sam Johnson 10 1 2+5 1 1+2 0 0 0

Assists and shutouts

  • Stats from MLS regular season, MLS playoffs, CONCACAF Champions league, and U.S. Open Cup are all included.
  • First tie-breaker for assists and shutouts is minutes played.
As of March 9, 2020[10]

Club

Roster

  • Age calculated as of the start of the 2019 season.
As of October 24, 2019,[11][12]
No. Name Nationality Positions Date of birth (age) Signed from Seasons with club (year signed)
1 David Ochoa (HGP)  United States GK (2001-01-16)January 16, 2001 (aged 19) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
2 Alvin Jones  Trinidad and Tobago DF (1994-07-09)July 9, 1994 (aged 25) OKC Energy FC 1 (2020)
3 Ashtone Morgan  Canada DF (1991-02-09)February 9, 1991 (aged 29) Toronto FC 1 (2020)
4 Donny Toia  United States DF (1992-05-28)May 28, 1992 (aged 27) Orlando City SC 3 (2011, 2019)
5 Kyle Beckerman (Captain)  United States MF (1982-04-23)April 23, 1982 (aged 37) Colorado Rapids 14 (2007)
7 Giuseppe Rossi  Italy FW (1987-02-01)February 1, 1987 (aged 33) Genoa 1 (2020)
8 Damir Kreilach  Croatia MF (1989-04-16)April 16, 1989 (aged 30) Union Berlin 3 (2018)
9 Justin Meram  Iraq MF (1988-12-04)December 4, 1988 (aged 31) Atlanta United FC 1 (2020)
10 Corey Baird (HGP)  United States FW (1997-01-21)January 21, 1997 (aged 23) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 3 (2018)
11 Albert Rusnák (DP)  Slovakia MF (1994-07-07)July 7, 1994 (aged 25) FC Groningen 4 (2017)
12 Douglas Martínez  Honduras FW (1997-06-05)June 5, 1997 (aged 22) Real Monarchs 2 (2019)
13 Nick Besler  United States MF (1993-05-07)May 7, 1993 (aged 26) Real Monarchs 4 (2017)
14 Nedum Onuoha  England DF (1986-11-12)November 12, 1986 (aged 33) Queens Park Rangers F.C. 3 (2018)
15 Justen Glad  United States DF (1997-02-28)February 28, 1997 (aged 23) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 7 (2014)
16 Maikel Chang  Cuba MF (1991-04-18)April 18, 1991 (aged 28) Real Monarchs 1 (2020)
17 Chris Garcia  United States FW (2003-01-13)January 13, 2003 (aged 17) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 1 (2020)
18 Zac MacMath  United States GK (1991-08-07)August 7, 1991 (aged 28) Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 (2020)
19 Luke Mulholland  England MF (1988-08-07)August 7, 1988 (aged 31) Tampa Bay Rowdies 7 (2014)
20 Erik Holt (HGP)  United States DF (1996-09-06)September 6, 1996 (aged 23) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
21 Tate Schmitt (HGP)  United States FW (1997-05-28)May 28, 1997 (aged 22) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
22 Aaron Herrera (HGP)  United States DF (1997-06-06)June 6, 1997 (aged 22) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 3 (2018)
23 Milan Iloski  United States FW (1999-07-29)July 29, 1999 (aged 20) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 1 (2020)
25 Everton Luiz  Brazil MF (1988-05-24)May 24, 1988 (aged 31) S.P.A.L. 2 (2019)
26 Luis Arriaga (HGP)  United States MF (2001-01-06)January 6, 2001 (aged 19) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
27 Julian Vazquez (HGP)  United States FW (2001-03-30)March 30, 2001 (aged 18) Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) 2 (2019)
28 Jeizon Ramírez (DP)  Venezuela FW (2001-03-24)March 24, 2001 (aged 18) Deportivo Táchira F.C. 1 (2020)
30 Marcelo Silva  Uruguay DF (1989-03-21)March 21, 1989 (aged 30) Real Zaragoza 4 (2017)
43 Justin Portillo  United States MF (1992-09-09)September 9, 1992 (aged 27) Real Monarchs 2 (2019)
50 Sam Johnson (DP)  Liberia FW (1993-05-06)May 6, 1993 (aged 26) Vålerenga Fotball 2 (2019)
51 Andrew Putna  United States GK (1994-10-21)October 21, 1994 (aged 25) Real Monarchs 3 (2018)

Transfers

As of October 7, 2019[11]

In

Player Position Previous Club Fees/Notes Date
Maikel Chang MF Real Monarchs Free transfer 11/21/19
Alvin Jones DF OKC Energy FC undisclosed 12/9/19
Zac MacMath GK Vancouver Whitecaps FC Trade for $50,000 in TAM 12/17/19
Milan Iloski FW UCLA Bruins Homegrown player 1/15/20
Ashtone Morgan DF Toronto FC Free agent 1/21/20
Jeizon Ramírez FW Deportivo Táchira F.C. Young DP 2/6/20
Chris Garcia FW Real Salt Lake Academy Homegrown player 2/10/20
Justin Meram MF Atlanta United FC Free agent 2/11/20
Giuseppe Rossi FW unattached Free agent 2/27/20

Out

Player Position Next Club Fees/Notes Date
Nick Rimando GK retired 10/24/19 [13]
Danilo Acosta DF LA Galaxy option declined[Note OPT] 11/21/19
Jordan Allen FW retired 11/21/19
Alex Horwath GK retired 11/21/19
Joao Plata FW Toluca option declined[Note OPT] 11/21/19
Kelyn Rowe MF New England Revolution out of contract 11/21/19
Brooks Lennon DF/FW Atlanta United FC Trade for $300,000 in GAM and TAM 12/2/19
Sebastian Saucedo MF Pumas UNAM out of contract 12/9/19
Jefferson Savarino FW Atletico Mineiro $2,000,000 2/7/20
Notes
  1. ^
    Option Declined (OPT): Players who have had their option declined may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.
  2. ^
    Free Agent (FREE): Players who are out of contract may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.

Loans

In

Player Position Loaned From Fees/Notes Date

Out

Player Position Loaned To Fees/Notes Date

Trialist

Player Position Previous team Notes Date Result
Dayonn Harris FW UConn 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick #20 01/9/20
Michael Wetungu DF Michigan State 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick #46. 01/9/20

Notes

  1. ^ Match postponed as part of a league-wide walkout, following the shooting of Jacob Blake.
  2. ^ Vancouver Whitecaps FC will play their home matches at Providence Park, Portland, instead of their regular home stadium BC Place, Vancouver, due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. ^ Match originally postponed on October 12 due to COVID-19 concerns in Colorado; ultimately never played.

References

  1. ^ Vejar, Alex (September 2, 2020). "RSL draws with Seattle 2-2 in first game with fans since March". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Vejar, Alex (August 8, 2020). "Real Salt Lake announces home games with fans in attendance". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Conference Standings – 2020". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "We Not Playing Tonight #EnoughIsEnough". lafc.com. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "RSL to Host LAFC on Wednesday, September 9". RSL.com. August 28, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "MLS postpones next three Colorado Rapids league matches". mlssoccer.com. October 12, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "MLS is Back Group Stage Standings". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Cancelled Due to COVID-19" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  9. ^ "MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Major League Soccer Season Statistics". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Roster". rsl.com. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "RSL Signs Justin Portillo from Real Monarchs SLC". rslsoapbox.com. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando to retire after 2019". mlssoccer.com. March 1, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.